The 15-year-old, who doesn't want to be named, hasn't been to school for more than 18 months because of the issue.

Some 80% of the kids at her school - Denbeigh High - are Muslim. They're allowed to wear headscarves, trousers and tunics but the jilbab is forbidden.

A spokesman for the school said it had tried to accommodate all groups.

"We're a multi-faith, multi-racial school. The last thing this school is is anti-racial. It's sad that someone is missing so much education through her own choice."

'Religion comes first'

The girl said: "The way I see it, my religion comes first, before education. I have to wear it."

Religion and school uniforms is becoming a big issue.

Just this week, French politicians voted overwhelmingly to support a ban on religious items in schools.